Dig at woods in search for missing Tina
A DIG to search for missing woman Tina Satchwell is set to begin in Co. Cork today.
The excavation has been ordered on foot of a tip-off from a member of the public, which gardaí are treating as a potential breakthrough in the case.
The 40-acre woodland site being searched is located beside the exclusive five-star Castlemartyr resort in southeast Cork.
Ms Satchwell, a native of Fermoy, Co. Cork, vanished from her home in the coastal town of Youghal on March 20 last year.
She was reported missing by her husband, Richard Satchwell, four days later.
He has said he believes someone helped his wife with her disappearance – and claimed €26,000 is missing from the family home.
However, he is adamant he does not believe his 47-year-old wife is dead, even though she does not have a passport and was not spotted in CCTV footage examined at ports and airports.
A senior source said: ‘This could be a major breakthrough in the case. The excavation on this scale would not be happening if this information received is not considered to be credible. The search will be along the lines of the search for Trevor Deely last year – a serious undertaking involving specialist gardaí.’
It is understood that Garda search team specialists, as well as building contractors, will be involved in the major operation.
A fingertip search will be undertaken also to ensure that the missing woman’s remains – should they be in the woodlands – are not disturbed.
Upwards of 100 gardaí will be involved in the dig.
Tina and Richard Satchwell have been married for 27 years.
Detectives are satisfied that she never left Ireland.
Mr Satchwell has spoken publicly many times appealing for his wife to return home – and insisted he will welcome her with ‘open arms’.
‘She is my daylight – she has been my life since meeting her,’ he said. Addressing his missing wife directly, he said: ‘No-one is mad at you – my arms are open.’
The couple got engaged two years after meeting and married in 1991, on Tina’s 20th birthday.
Mr Satchwell has insisted he had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance – and said he believes she left Youghal to deal with personal issues.
‘My wife is going to turn up or she is going to get in touch with gardaí,’ he said. ‘One way or another, this will all come out and, in time, it will [be shown] that I have done nothing.
‘I have never once, in nearly 30 years of being together, laid a finger on her – the most I have ever done to her is have a tight cuddle, loving the bones off her.’
Gardaí have stressed that are ‘very concerned’ for Ms Satchwell after repeated appeals for information over the previous ten months yielded nothing.
While two suitcases were missing from her home, travel documents and other financial material were still in the house. The missing woman’s mobile phone has also not been used.